Producers file trade case vs. Russia, Venezuela ferrosilicon

NEW YORK  Russian and Venezuelan ferrosilicon is being sold in the United States at less than fair value, according to an anti-dumping petition filed with the Commerce Department and the International Trade Commission.

The petition alleges that dumping margins on Russian material range from 21.85 to 60.77 percent while those on Venezuelan material are between 20.07 and 60.11 percent, and that the U.S. ferrosilicon industry is suffering material injury as a result of the alleged dumping.

"Over the POI (period of investigation), the dumped imports have captured a very large and growing share of the U.S. ferrosilicon market. By 2012, the unfair import volume had increased to 117,209 short tons, which is equivalent to 64.4 percent of total imports," the petition said. "The imports are being sold at very low prices that undercut the prices of the U.S. producers, and cause lost domestic industry sales volume, lost revenues, price depression and suppression, and declining market prices.

"The industry has lost market share and has suffered a decline in employment," the petition added.